Rules Summary
This is all you really need to know to start practising and forming teams:

All matches are played in Doubles format

Pokemon above Level 50 will be brought down to 50 for the match while those below 50 will stay as-is

Players choose 4 of their 6 registered Pokemon after team preview

Species Clause and Items Clause are in effect

Pokemon ineligible for Battle Subway are banned (see below for the full list)

Dark Void and Sky Drop are banned

If you'd like to read about specific situations that may arise or just so you know every detail before the events, keep reading below!

Full Rules
Pokémon Organized Play supports several tournament formats for sanctioned play of the Pokémon video games. This document covers each of the approved formats and their variations. Tournaments that do not use one of the formats described here may not be sanctioned.

5. Standard Format Style
All sanctioned Pokémon video game tournaments require players to assemble a team of Pokémon, with items, prior to the start of the event. The standard format style for all PLAY! Pokémon tournaments is Double Battle.

5.1. Double Battle
In Double Battles, each player selects four Pokémon from his or her party of six to battle with. At the start of the battle, players send out the first two Pokémon in their party, making a total of four Pokémon on the battlefield. Game play continues until a player knocks out all four of his or her opponent’s Pokémon.
​

6. Standard Team Construction Rules
When building a team for a PLAY! Pokémon tournament, all players must adhere to these standard construction rules.

A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number

Each Pokémon on a player’s team can hold an item, though no two Pokémon may hold the same item

A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same nickname

A player’s team cannot contain a Pokémon nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (for example, an Unfezant named “Pidove”)

Pokémon may only use moves that have been learned through one of the following methods:

By leveling up

By TM or HM

As an Egg move, through breeding

From a character in the game

A move already known by a Pokémon received at an official Pokémon event or promotion

7. Sanctioned Format
Pokémon Organized Play supports one format for sanctioned play: Modified. Sanctioned events are listed on the POP website, and the results are reported to POP after the event concludes.

7.1. Modified Format
The Modified format is the standard tournament format for PLAY! Pokémon video game events. This format will be used at all premier events unless specified otherwise. The Modified format for the 2011– 2012 season will use the following restrictions:

Only Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version Game Cards are permitted for use.

Players may use Pokémon from the National Pokédex, from No. 001–646, that are caught in the game, transferred from a previous Pokémon title, or received at an official event or distribution.

The following Pokémon may not be on a player’s team:

150 – Mewtwo

151 – Mew

249 – Lugia

250 – Ho-Oh

251 – Celebi

382 – Kyogre

383 – Groudon

384 – Rayquaza

385 – Jirachi

386 – Deoxys

483 – Dialga

484 – Palkia

487 – Giratina

489 – Phione

490 – Manaphy

491 – Darkrai

492 – Shaymin

493 – Arceus

494 – Victini

643 – Reshiram

644 – Zekrom

646 – Kyurem

Pokémon must be placed in the Battle Box.

Pokémon above level 50 are permitted, but they are auto‐leveled down to 50 for the duration of battle.

Players may use Pokémon with Hidden Abilities that have been officially released via Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, the Pokémon Global Link, or an official event or promotion.

Pokémon may not know the moves Sky Drop or Dark Void.

The Wonder Launcher cannot be used during battle.

​

Furthermore:26. Team Restrictions
Players may only use Pokémon that are legal for the tournament format. Players are responsible for ensuring that their team adheres to any restrictions set forth by the tournament format and this document.

26.3. External Devices
The use of external devices to modify or create items or Pokémon in a player’s party is expressly forbidden. Players found to have Pokémon or items that have been tampered with will be disqualified from competition, regardless of whether the Pokémon or items belong to that player or were traded for. Players should only have Pokémon that they have raised themselves and items that they have received through normal game play. It is always the player’s responsibility to have legal Pokémon and items during the competition.​

25. Game Cards
Only legitimate Pokémon Game Cards can be used in PLAY! Pokémon tournaments. Players are restricted on which language Game Cards they can use, based on the country where they are playing.

Players at European events may only use European Game Cards.

Players at North American events may only use North American Game Cards.

Players at the World Championships may only use Game Cards that are legal in their home markets.

25.1. Game Systems
Players may use any system in the Nintendo DS™ family of systems during the competition. This includes the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite™, Nintendo DSi™, Nintendo DSi XL™, and the Nintendo 3DS™. Players are responsible for bringing a charger that is compatible with their system.​

26. Team Restrictions
Players may only use Pokémon that are legal for the tournament format. Players are responsible for ensuring that their team adheres to any restrictions set forth by the tournament format and this document.

26.3. External Devices
The use of external devices to modify or create items or Pokémon in a player’s party is expressly forbidden. Players found to have Pokémon or items that have been tampered with will be disqualified from competition, regardless of whether the Pokémon or items belong to that player or were traded for. Players should only have Pokémon that they have raised themselves and items that they have received through normal game play. It is always the player’s responsibility to have legal Pokémon and items during the competition.​

27. Team Registration
Before the first round of a tournament, team registration may occur. This process involves each player listing the exact contents of his or her team. To make team registration easier on the tournament staff, players should complete their team list prior to registration. These team lists can later be used by Tournament Organizers and judges to verify that a team has not been altered since the outset of a tournament. Players are not allowed to change their Pokémon or items at any time during a tournament.

28. Time Limits
Tournament staff is responsible for running a timely event. To assist in this effort, POP has established guidelines for time limits during various portions of the event.

28.1. Pregame Time Limit
If team preview is enabled, players have 90 seconds to view their opponent’s team and select their Pokémon.

28.2. Midgame Time Limit
Any mid‐game effects, such as selecting a move or retreating Pokémon, are to take place in a reasonable amount of time. If a judge feels that a player’s pace is unwarranted, that player will be subject to the Game Tempo section of the POP Penalty Guidelines.

28.3. Match Time Limits
Single‐game matches should be a minimum of 15 minutes. For best‐of‐three matches, each game should be timed individually, and should be a minimum of 15 minutes. The specific time limit for each round’s matches should be announced by the Tournament Organizer at the outset of the tournament.​

29. Match Resolution
A player wins by knocking out his or her opponent’s final Pokémon.

If the player’s final Pokémon used Selfdestruct, Explosion, Destiny Bond, or Final Gambit, and both players’ final Pokémon are knocked out as a result, that player loses that game

If a player’s final Pokémon used Double‐Edge, Volt Tackle, Flare Blitz, Take Down, Submission, Brave Bird, Wood Hammer, Head Smash, Struggle, or Wild Charge, or was holding Life Orb, and both players’ final Pokémon are knocked out as a result, that player wins that game

If both players’ final Pokémon is knocked out by a weather condition, such as Hail or Sandstorm, the player whose Pokémon is knocked out last wins the game

If a Pokémon’s Ability or held item, such as Rough Skin, Aftermath, Liquid Ooze, Iron Barbs, or Rocky Helmet, results in each player’s final Pokémon being knocked out, the player with the Ability or held item will win the game

A player who selects “Run” during a battle will count as the loser of that game, whether selected intentionally or not.

29.1. Tiebreakers
Should the time limit expire before a player knocks out his or her opponent’s final Pokémon, the winner of the game is determined based on the criteria below.

Remaining Pokémon

If one player has more remaining Pokémon than the other, that player wins the game.

If both players have the same number of Pokémon remaining, the result of the game is determined by average percentage of HP remaining, as described below.

Average Percentage of HP Remaining

If one player’s team has a higher average percentage of HP remaining, that player wins the game.

If both players’ teams have the same average HP remaining, the result of the game is determined by amount of HP remaining, as described below.

Amount of Total HP Remaining

If one player’s team has a higher total HP remaining, that player wins the game.

If both players’ teams have the same total HP remaining, the result of the game is a tie.

​

29.2. Sudden Death
If a game ends in a tie during the single elimination portion of an event, a single Sudden Death game is played to determine the winner of the match. Players are required to gain an advantage in number of remaining Pokémon over their opponent. Tournament staff will evaluate the game at the end of each turn to determine if an advantage has been gained. After each turn has been completed, the tournament staff will determine the number of Pokémon that each player has remaining.

If both players have the same number of Pokémon remaining at the end of the turn, the game continues for another turn.

If a player has more remaining Pokémon than his or her opponent at the end of any turn, that player wins the game.

Once the winner of the active game has been determined, the following criteria will be used to determine the winner of the match, based on which game in the match has just been completed.

Game 1:
The players proceed to game 2.

Game 2:
If the winner of game 2 also won game 1, that player wins the match.
If the winner of game 2 did not win game 1, the match is tied and the players proceed to game 3.

A Travel Award for the winner (including a parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2012 Pokémon Video Game U.S. National Championships at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, OR the 2012 Pokémon Video Game Canada National Championships in Toronto, ON.*

A first- and second-round bye at the 2012 Pokémon Video Game U.S. National Championships**

Additional Pokémon-themed items

10 Championship Points

2nd Place

A Pokémon Video Game Regional Championships 2nd Place medal

A $300 travel allowance (including an additional $300 travel allowance for players under 18) to participate in the 2012 Pokémon Video Game U.S. National Championships at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, OR the 2012 Pokémon Video Game Canada National Championships in Toronto, ON.*

A first- and second-round bye at the 2012 Pokémon Video Game U.S. National Championships**

Additional Pokémon-themed items

8 Championship Points

3rd & 4th Place

A Pokémon Video Game Regional Championships 3rd or 4th Place medal

A $300 travel allowance (including an additional $300 travel allowance for players under 18) to participate in the 2012 Pokémon Video Game U.S. National Championships at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, OR the 2012 Pokémon Video Game Canada National Championships in Toronto, ON.*

Additional Pokémon-themed items

6 Championship Points

5th Place through 8th Place

5 Championship Points

9th Place through 12th Place

4 Championship Points (if division attendance is 32 or greater)

13th Place through 16th Place

3 Championship Points (if division attendance is 64 or greater)

17th Place through 32nd Place

2 Championship Points (if division attendance is 64 or greater)

33rd Place through 64th Place

1 Championship Point (if division attendance is 128 or greater)

* Non-U.S. residents are not eligible to collect a Travel Award or travel allowance to the U.S. National Championships, as the U.S. Nationals are open to U.S. residents only. Non-Canadian residents are not eligible to collect a Travel Award or travel allowance to the Canadian National Championships, as the Canadian Nationals are open to Canadian residents only. If a non-resident wins a Regional Championship, the Travel Award or travel allowance will pass down to the next eligible resident. All other prizes will be awarded to the actual winner of the event.

** Byes do not ‘stack.’ If you have win byes at both the Autumn and Spring Regional Championships, you will only receive a first- and second-round bye at your National Championships.

Europe
1st Place

A Pokémon Video Game National Championships 1st Place Trophy

A Travel Award for the winner (including a parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii

An invitation to participate in the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships

Additional prizes

14 Championship Points

2nd Place

A Pokémon Video Game National Championships 2nd Place Trophy

A Travel Award for the winner (including a parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii

An invitation to participate in the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships

Additional prizes

12 Championship Points

3rd & 4th Place

A Pokémon Video Game National Championships 3rd or 4th Place Trophy

A Travel Award for the winner (including a parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii

An invitation to participate in the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships

Additional prizes

10 Championship Points

United States
1st Place

A National Champion Trophy

An invitation to compete at the Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, on August 11th and 12th, 2012

Airfare and 5-day/4-night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the Pokémon Video Game World Championships

2nd Place

A National Championships Finalist Trophy

An invitation to compete at the Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, on August 11th and 12th, 2012

Airfare and 5-day/4-night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the Pokémon Video Game World Championships

3rd and 4th Place:

A National Championships Semi-Finalist Trophy

An invitation to compete at the Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, on August 11th and 12th, 2012

Airfare and 5-day/4-night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the Pokémon Video Game World Championships

Canada
1st Place:

A National Champion Trophy

An invitation to compete at the Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, on August 11th and 12th, 2012

Airfare and 5-day/4-night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the Pokémon Video Game World Championships

2nd Place:

A National Championships Finalist Trophy

An invitation to compete at the Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, on August 11th and 12th, 2012

Airfare and 5-day/4-night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the Pokémon Video Game World Championships

3rd and 4th Place:

A National Championships Semi-Finalist Trophy

We do not know the prizes for Worlds at this time, but they will likely be similar to last year.